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Defenders are used to taking a hit or two during their career, but Gabriel Zakuani really did not expect this to happen yesterday.

The DR Congo and Peterborough United centre-half was receiving treatment during his country’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against rivals Congo when the medical truck, tasked with taking him off the field, drove in to him.

Fortunately, the hapless driver was able to apply the brakes before seriously hurting the player – but not before catching Zakuani, who was waiting on a stretcher on the pitch.

Zakuani played no further part in his side’s 4-2 victory, which secured their place in the competition’s semi-finals, but it was due to the injury which required the vehicle to enter the field in the first place.